if summer was a sound | Glowfic Constellation

from-the-land

"Well, when I left Baba Ostankya she gave me a blessing. Maybe that had more tangible effect than I thought."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"There's not much I would say she isn't capable of," she agrees with a nod, while covertly gripping the energy of storms behind him.

Then she whips them around in front of his face, completely invisible to mundane senses.

from-the-land

He doesn't actually speak, but he starts backward jerkily.

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Ah. That is a good source of 'luck', isn't it? I thought that retreat had been suspiciously well-timed."

from-the-land

"Yes. The Sight is surprisingly useful leading a rota, whether against beasts, Kyazans, or Zelenyie."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"You know perfectly well the penalty for men-witches. And so concealed the source of your 'luck' from your men."

from-the-land

"Yes and no. Yes, that is why I concealed it. But no, I face no penalty. I am not a witch. Baba Ostankya made sure of that. Have I touched the winds, or the ice, even once?"

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Not that I could sense. Which is not the confidence we need."

from-the-land

"So, that's it? You kill me, because you don't trust that I dealt with your problem already myself? I swear by Ursun I spoke no lie; let his Teeth swallow me up or his children kill me if I can touch magic, or ever could in any future days."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"One mistake, cousin Kamarev. One man we miss, who learns a little Ice Magic and destroys all we worked for, and leaves the Motherland without our protection in its hour of need. I will take what precautions I deem necessary."

from-the-land

He snarls. "So you do whatever you like, because you happened to be born with witch-gift. Fine. What do you want? I saw the problem, I risked my life to have it fixed perfectly, because I couldn't bear to give up my new set of eyes, I got the greatest Hag Witch in Kislev - and that counts for nothing. So what do you want?"

of-the-ice-and-snow

Oh no, she likes him. It's been ages since anyone outside the sisterhood stood up to her.

of-the-ice-and-snow

"And if we'd both been born without it, hmm? You'd be a respected warrior and I'd be just another noblewoman with no power except through my husband. Is that any more fair?"

She wasn't really planning to argue but it kind of slipped out.

from-the-land

"Well, no. But the world is as it is. To live, we must fight off the invaders and birth the next generation, and few could bear both of those dangers and perpetuate their stanitsa."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"And keeping me from running business, that is the world as it is too?"

from-the-land

"Would they really? I thought only southerners would be so foolish, if you showed yourself clever."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"Well, you're consistent at least - but we're losing the point. I need to do something about you. And if it isn't death, then what?"

from-the-land

"Do you really think I could swear falsely to Ursun, here beside his Teeth? Bring any priest, examine me however you like. I am true and truthful."

of-the-ice-and-snow

"I suppose I can... Inna, Katya, keep him here I get back. If he decides to run or touch magic, I have misjudged him, and you will kill him immediately."

"Yes, Lady Kajetana."

And she turns and strides off.

from-the-land

Well, that... could have gone worse. Given that he came to an Ice Witch's attention, it was probably foolish to think it could have gone better. She is at least trying to be reasonable.

"I didn't hear her name," he remarks to the fire.

Kislevites

Kislev.

"Lady Teisiya Velikaya Kajetana, Ice Witch of the Father's Lore. Envoy of the Tzarina."

from-the-land

"Thank you. City boyarina?"

Kislev.

"I believe so."

from-the-land

"I will try not to offend her any further."

of-the-ice-and-snow